GAME NOTES: Despite remaining undefeated on the 2007 season, the USC Trojans dropped out of the top spot in the national polls this week, as they get set to take on the Stanford Cardinal in Pac-10 action from the L.A. Coliseum. Pete Carroll's squad struggled at Washington last weekend, but prevailed 27-24. The win pushed the team to 4-0 on the season, but voters decided to put LSU into the top spot in the polls this week. The Trojans will likely use that as fuel when they take on Jim Harbaugh's Cardinal. Stanford has struggled in Harbaugh's first season thus far, recording just one win against three defeats. That victory came on September 15th against San Jose State (37-0), but the team has now dropped back-to-back league affairs to Oregon (55-31) and most recently, Arizona State (41-3). All three of the team's losses this season have come against ranked opponents. USC comes into this contest having won 35 consecutive home games and 24 straight Pac-10 games at home. The last time the Trojans lost a league game at home was to this same Stanford squad in 2001. Stanford is USC's oldest rival dating back to 1905. Overall, the Trojans hold a 58-24-3 advantage in the series and have won five straight against the Cardinal.

The Cardinal offense has certainly improved significantly from last year, but failed to generate much of anything in last week's rout at the hands of the Sun Devils. On the year, the team is netting 22.0 ppg, on a decent 385 yards of total offense. The ground game is responsible for 116.5 yards per game, but the passing attack has been much more effective at 268.8 ypg. Senior QB T.C. Ostrander has played to mixed reviews thus far, completing just 54.2 percent of his passes, for 1,065 yards, with six TDs and three interceptions. However, Ostrader suffered a seizure this past week and will not play against USC. Sophomore Tavita Pritchard will get the start in this one. Sophomore WR Richard Sherman has been the go-to-guy downfield, despite starting just one game. Sherman leads the team in receptions (20), receiving yards (339) and TDs (two) and is netting 84.8 yards per game. The ground game is led by junior RB Anthony Kimble, who is netting nearly five yards per carry (4.9) and is averaging 72.0 ypg.

Defensively, the Cardinal have had their share of problems. The team is giving up a generous 35.2 ypg and has struggled in stopping both the run (189.8 ypg) and the pass (264.2 ypg). The result is a way too high 454.0 yards of total offense allowed. Despite what seems to be a revolving door, the defense has shown some improvement. The team has already amassed 12 sacks on the season, just two shy of last year's total. Sophomore LB Clinton Snyder (23 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks) leads the charge in that category. Fellow sophomore Bo McNally has also made a huge impact on this unit. The 6-0, 208-pound free safety currently leads the team in tackles with 40.

Although they were favored by three touchdowns, the Trojans survived a sloppy game and held on for a three-point win in Seattle last week. The team committed a whopping 16 penalties, its most since 1999, turned the ball over three times and had a punt blocked in the game. Despite the poor outing, USC is still sporting impressive offensive numbers. The team is averaging a healthy 40.2 ppg this year, with superb balance between the run (237.0 ypg) and the pass (224.5 ypg). Quarterback John David Booty has seen his Heisman campaign falter a bit, but has still put up good numbers, completing 65.9 percent of his passes, for 875 yards, with 10 TDs and four INTs. Tight end Fred Davis (18 receptions, for 283 yards and two TDs) has been a valuable outlet, as has 6-5 junior WR Patrick Turner (16 receptions, for 185 yards and one TD). The ground game lacks a real workhorse this year, but rather, relies on the steady play of youngster Stafon Johnson (8.2 ypc, 94.5 ypg) and veteran Chauncey Washington (5.3 ypc, 77.7 ypg).

The defensive numbers have been good this season for USC and it will be this unit that potentially carries this team to a BCS Bowl game. The Trojans are yielding 19.8 ppg thus far, thanks in large part to a rush defense giving up a meager 73.2 ypg, on 2.4 ypc. Linebackers Keith Rivers (team-high 34 tackles) and Rey Maualuga (26 tackles) lead the way in the middle of the field. Up front, the team relies heavily on rush end Lawrence Jackson (17 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks) and tackle Sedrick Ellis (14 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 1.0 sacks). Junior DE Kyle Moore has made the most of his opportunities as well. He has 12 tackles on the season, with one sack, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

The Trojans may play with more of an attitude now that the voters have moved them out of the top spot. That certainly won't be good news for the Cardinal, who may just be served up on a silver platter in this one.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: USC 43, Stanford 10